JESUS TALKS ABOUT JUDGING OTHERS

We do not have the perspective of hindsight from day to day. In today’s Gospel reading, the Lord tells us to refrain from judging others. Of course, we all form tentative opinions on a number of issues that guide our lives. But Jesus reminds us not to close the books on any individual.

God’s grace is operative in every person’s life at each moment and we cannot predict the result of its mysterious chemistry. Furthermore, we cannot fully comprehend the life experiences that made an individual the type of person she or he has become. Lastly, our snap judgments can be wrong. We can often mistake reticence for snobbery or anxiety for evasive behavior.

As we do not want others to make harsh judgments upon us without knowing our whole story, so we should not do the same to them. There is always a story.

We should be willing to give people a chance as does the Lord we follow.